Pelfrey, With 8.14 E.R.A., Gets the Nod for the Mets

By CHARLIE NOBLES

Published: March 31, 2008

The right-hander Mike Pelfrey, who had an unsightly 8.14 earned run average in spring training, will open the season as the Mets' fifth starter, Manager Willie Randolph said Sunday.

That means Orlando Hern?ez, the veteran right-hander who was 9-5 last season with a 3.72 E.R.A., will be put on the disabled list and stay at the team's training base in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to work on his endurance and windup.

Randolph also chose Joe Smith over Brian Stokes for his bullpen and outfielder Brady Clark as his last utility player over infielder Fernando Tatis.

Randolph said that he ignored earned run averages in making his decision and that Pelfrey had a better camp than the numbers showed.

''Mike is a big strong kid,'' Randolph said of the 24-year-old Pelfrey. ''He has a bright future.''

The reality, however, is that Pelfrey was chosen in large part because Hern?ez probably needs another two weeks or more to be in regular-season form.

''I can pitch in the major leagues right now, but it's better to take two or three more starting days in the minor leagues, where I need to become more flexible,'' Hern?ez said. ''I need more confidence, you know.''

Pelfrey admitted to some significant nervousness before he was the last one told by Randolph that he made the team. He saw Smith and Clark receive the good news and wondered if the Mets had decided to go with Hern?ez.

''I thought going into it that if he was healthy, it was going to be him,'' Pelfrey said. ''But I don't think results always tell everything. I feel like I've gotten better this spring and I think I'm headed in the right direction.''

Pelfrey said he understood that Hern?ez would be joining the rotation at some point, barring more trouble with his painful left foot bunion. Hern?ez lowered his signature high leg kick to help with the pain but found out that it has hurt his results. In his last game, he returned to a higher leg kick and held Baltimore to a run and four hits in five innings.

''I believe everything happens for a reason,'' Pelfrey said. ''If I perform, I believe they'll find a way to keep me around.''

Sunday morning's news was good for Smith, but he realized that Duaner S?hez, now rehabbing in the minors, could be ready in two to three weeks, according to General Manager Omar Minaya.

''We want him to be able to go back to back before we think he's ready,'' Minaya said of S?hez.

Clark, a journeyman outfielder who has been with Milwaukee, San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers, won a spot because Randolph said he best fit the team's need. Randolph said he wanted the security of another outfielder, a ripple effect from left fielder Moises Alou's absence because of a hernia operation.

Clark, who text-messaged his wife after receiving the news, hit .283 this spring to Tatis's .212.

Tatis was sent to Class AAA New Orleans, even as Minaya spoke highly of him for his versatility and for his offensive skills.

Randolph later identified the lineup he will use when the regular season begins for the Mets on Monday against the Florida Marlins.

Four of the starters will be making their Mets debut -- right fielder Ryan Church, catcher Brian Schneider, left fielder ngel Pag?and pitcher Johan Santana.

Shortstop Jos?eyes will lead off, followed by second baseman Luis Castillo, third baseman David Wright, center fielder Carlos Beltr? first baseman Carlos Delgado, Pag? Church, Schneider and Santana.

The Mets are eager to put their epic collapse of last season behind them.

''The team we had in 2006 had a certain swagger and flow to it, which we lost a little bit last year,'' Wright said. ''When we went bad, we were kind of hoping for a win, where in 2006 we knew we were going to win. We've just got to get that back.''